The Wall Street Journal very aptly noted that, "Intelligence
is supposed to be a tool of policy, not a determiner of it." Intelligence
IS a tool�like a hammer, a screwdriver, or a gun. Intelligence 'contributes'
to building policy but ultimately policy is a product of leadership.

I recall as a young Army officer being taught the
necessity for using a SWOT analysis in decision-making. SWOT stands for
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Developing the lists is mostly empirical science.
Crafting a decision/policy is mostly an art.

Petty venial partisans are ragging on the administration
over 16 words the President Bush articulated in his January State of the
Union address. 16 words, which 'may' have been false�maybe. Democrats
en mass and presidential wannbes specifically have their panties in a
bunch over the President having said, "The British government has learned
that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium
from Africa."

Notwithstanding protestations to the contrary and
CIA honcho George Tenet having thrown himself on his sword, the Brits
STILL continue to stand by the claim despite the CIA waffling. As the
Wall Street Journal observed, "So what Mr. Bush said about what the British
believe was true in January and is still true today." However, critics
not wanting to be confused with facts that contradict their preconceived
(or manufactured) opinion/prejudice presume to suggest a conspiracy of
lies, hyperbole, or selective hearing loss.

Partisan critics who seem much more focused on November
2004 than national security have conveniently forgotten (and content to
ignore) that we didn't go to war � just because of one dubious foreign
intelligence report, � OR just to deny the use of weapons of mass destruction,
� OR just because Saddam Hussein was/is a crazy genocidal s.o.b. � We
also had over a decade of history, � a gaggle of U.N. resolutions, � and
consensus in the intelligence arena that Hussein had WMDs, had used them
already, and was working hard on getting more.

This picking at the scab of intelligence is like
questioning a van Gough brush stroke. Intelligence data is collected in
bits and pieces, usually contradictory and ambiguous.

Intelligence wonks seek trends and patterns and
craft an assortment of 'what ifs'. Then they work to mitigate and/or sharp
shoot the 'what ifs'. THAT is what they do.

Democrat partisan critics don't have much of anything
substantive with which to counter the administrations superior performance
and polling data. Therefore they are picking at nits in the vain hope
of "If we can't dazzle them with brilliance we will baffle them with b.s�.."

A few weeks ago at the height of the "neener/ neener/
neener�where ARE the WMDs?" screeds from the democrats and the calm, confident
"we WILL find proof" from administration and congressional sources, it
struck me that the Bush critics may be digging themselves a hole that
could become a political grave.

All the democrats seem to hanging their collective
hat on the "you can't find WMDs because they are not there" hook. They
are focused on crafting the fiction that the administration lied (let
alone it is just one of multiple elements for the war).

WHAT IF the reason the administration is so confident
of validation is: � They already have confirmation/proof of WMD? � They
have for 'strategic' (political) reasons chosen to withhold the data?
� They are 'analyzing/vetting' the proof? � The announcement/confirmation
is being held until after Labor Day when the political campaign shifts
gears�or maybe until after the first of the year? � The ONLY significant
criticism the democrat wannabes have is the 'presumption' the administration
acted on flawed data and knew it. � If or when proof/corroboration of
the only arguably disputable factoid is resolved, what will the dems have?

Basically the partisan nerdy nabobs have put all
their fragile eggs in one basket. If or when the administration drops
a brick in it�the critics are S.O.L. (Simply Out of Luck)!

I am not a partisan sycophant defender of the administration.
I still feel they are overreaching with the U.S.A. Patriot Act stuff.
However, when it comes to the policy making, and execution of Operation
Iraqi Freedom this administration has done a stellar job. We have witnessed
classic American characteristics that although often lauded are too seldom
evidenced.

This administration has, does, and hopefully will
continue to personify leadership, conviction, and courage. Even in the
unlikely event history proves them wrong (and I don't think so), THIS
administration has shown the American people and the world, why we ARE
leaders�and that is a good thing.

"A few weeks ago at the height
of the "neener/ neener/ neener�where ARE the WMDs?" screeds from the democrats
and the calm, confident "we WILL find proof" from administration and congressional
sources, it struck me that the Bush critics may be digging themselves
a hole that could become a political grave."